“In the end, Wisconsin was just too far away,” he said. “UW just kind of won out. Every college in some way, shape or form had a fault, but UW was kind of the one I could make work best.”

UW’s coaching change in December “was a pretty good-sized monkey wrench” in his plans, McGary said. “But,” he added, “looking past the coaches, I still don’t know much about them, but I know their reputations and I haven’t heard a bad word about them.”

New UW coach Chris Petersen told McGary he sees him as an NFL left tackle, but McGary also wants the option to play on the defensive line.

“He’s a high-character kid … and he’s got a good work ethic,” Fife coach Kent Nevin said. “He feels a duty and a responsibility to do right by his family first.”